Mount Hood

Seated volleyball is a Hit

Adam McAdams dives backwards to save the ball during a seated volleyball game. PHOTO BY ZACH GARDNER | Staff Photographer
Adam McAdams dives backwards to save the ball during a seated volleyball game.
PHOTO BY ZACH GARDNER | Staff Photographer
By KATRINA PENAFLOR Campus Life Editor

The Western Accessibility Awareness Month committee organized a seated volleyball game in the Health and Wellness Center Feb. 17.

WAAM, which was previously known as Disability Awareness Month, took place in October last year. The committee decided to move the event to February to allow more time to plan events for students to attend.

Rose Lethe, a junior applied mathematics major, is a WAAM committee member. She talked about wanting to organize, “what we thought students would want to see.”

Seated volleyball is “part of our lunch and learn series,” said Charisse Loughery, Western’s Student Conduct Coordinator and one of the event organizers. Another WAAM event is a weekly Instagram and Twitter challenge.

The rules of the game were similar to traditional volleyball except the court was made smaller and feet were allowed to slide underneath the net without penalty. Participant’s bodies also had to remain seated on the ground at all times.

The game brought a lot of attention from WAAM committee members, students, and gym-goers that all rotated in and out of the game.

Lethe said she had a lot of fun participating in seated volleyball and said it would be “great to have this at Western.”
Abby Luedman, a junior pre-ASL interpreting major enjoyed watching the game. She heard about it from one of her classes where she says her teacher has a box of activities for students: “this was one of them.”

Another attendee, senior and pre-ASL interpreting major Mylisa McGill, enjoyed watching a game like this for the first time: “I did not know what seated volleyball was,” McGill said.

WAAM events will be continuing throughout February and the beginning of March. Upcoming programs of WAAM include a lunch and learn series titled “OMG! There’s a Deaf/Hard of Hearing Person in the Room,” Monday, Feb. 23 from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Willamette room, and WaWa, a Deaf rapper performing in ITC room 211 at 7 p.m., March 13.

JANE AUSTEN’S CLASSIC TAKES THE STAGE

Belladina Starr converses with Lindsay Spear on stage as couples dance during rhearsal for “Pride and Prejudice.” PHOTO BY STEPHANIE BLAIR | Staff Photographer
Belladina Starr converses with Lindsay Spear on stage as couples dance during rhearsal for “Pride and Prejudice.”
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE BLAIR | Staff Photographer
By STEPHANIE BLAIR
 Staff Writer

Thursday, Feb. 26, Western’s theatre department will be opening “Pride and Prejudice” on the main stage, directed by David Janoviak, professor and head of acting.

Based on the novel by Jane Austen, the classical romantic comedy follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet (played by third-year student and BFA actor, Janelle Davis), a stubborn and straightforward girl from a family of five girls whose mother, Mrs. Bennet (played by third-year student and BFA actor, Belladina Starr), is desperate to see all married.

Two wealthy gentlemen move to town, one of which is the brooding and reserved Mr. Darcy (played by third-year student and BFA actor, Jeff Presler), whose interactions with Elizabeth prove that first impressions are not always what they seem.
“There’s a lot of comedy in the show,” Davis said. “But, you have to be smart to get it.”

The classical feel may be daunting, similar to Shakespearian dialogue in that it can be hard to grasp at first, but the cast promises great fun.

“If you’re looking for fart jokes, you’ve come to the wrong play,” Starr said.

A two-act play, “Pride and Prejudice” has a cast of over 30 actors, spanning all grades of Western’s student body. It is a family show, though it may be a bit much for children.

“Working with the amount of people I do is incredible,” Davis said. “This is a huge cast and I interact with every single person.”

Performances are Feb. 26-28, March 4-7 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee showing Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m.

Theatre department productions are free to students. Admission for non-Western students is $7, general admission is $12, and seniors $10. Tickets can be purchased at the Rice Auditorium box office, 503.838.8462.

Portraits of a University: Self-proclaimed psychology nerd

PHOTO BY NATHANIEL DUNAWAY | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
PHOTO BY NATHANIEL DUNAWAY | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Nathaniel Dunaway meets with Western students to discuss their lives and their experiences in the world of higher education. In doing so, he hopes to find an answer to the question what does it mean to be a college student in the 21st century?

I’m from Southern California and I wanted to move to Oregon. It was between Oregon and Arizona, and Arizona was too hot. But I was ready to move out of my parents’ house, and I came up here to look at OSU.

At the airport, my mom said she’d heard about this school called Western Oregon University. So she said “Let’s just drive by and see if you like it.” So we drove by and I took a tour, and I liked it 10 times better than OSU. I liked the small classrooms.

I like teachers to know who I am. I liked the feel of the campus a lot more. I applied that night at the airport while our flight was delayed.

People are a lot nicer here than they are in Southern California. I use my grocery store example: if you’re at the grocery store in Oregon, you can have a full-on conversation with someone you don’t even know over what type of milk you’re buying.

In California, if I were to even start saying something like “oh, those milk prices” or whatever, someone would just stare at me like “why are you talking to me?” It’s fast-paced where I come from. People don’t really take the time to engage with other people. Everyone’s kind of in their
own bubble.

I remember the first time I drove up into Oregon and I got out of the car to pump my own gas, and the guy freaked out on me. But now I go back home and I’ll just sit in the car like “hello, it’s been like 10 minutes.”

I started classes fall 2013. I took the general, entry-level psychology classes, and those were the only textbooks where I could actually sit and read them front to back, and stay engaged.

When I sat down to decide my major, I just weighed the pros and cons of what I enjoyed reading and
doing. So I picked psychology. Now I know almost my entire department by name, and I like that. When I graduate, I’m gonna be sad to leave, but I think I’ll be ready to move on.

The thing about going to college is that it’s become the new high school diploma. A bachelor’s degree wasn’t what it was 20 years ago. You’re not going to go out and find a high-paying job right away. It’s just not gonna happen. So you have to further your education. I have to. There’s
nothing I can do with a psychology bachelor’s. So I’ll get my master’s in psychology, then my Ph.D., and I’m going back to California for that.

I’m such a psychology nerd. Psychology, for me, was just relatable. I think that’s really important. Everything I’m learning is relatable. With each class, I’m liking it more and
more. And it’s great that I can use what I know to help my friends and family, and hopefully later on I’ll be able to help people I don’t know. I’m not losing my steam for psychology. I love it.

Flashback Friday: Dean of Women and namesake of Todd Hall

Jessica Todd, standing in front of the dormitories. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
Jessica Todd, standing in front of the dormitories. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES
By KATRINA PENAFLOR
 Campus Life Editor

Today, Todd Hall houses psychology offices, the modern language department, the Child Development Center and Teaching Research Institute. But what some students might not know is the hall itself was actually once a dormitory that housed female students who attended the Oregon Normal School, a former title of Western.

And the woman in charge of the students was Jessica Todd.

Todd originally came to the Oregon Normal School to work as a critic teacher, a supervisor of student teachers. She later became the dean of women, which was her highest title at the institution.

She also played a major role in the funding of what we now call Todd Hall, which was built in 1912, and the Cottage, built in 1917.

Additionally, Todd watched over the students living in the dormitory. She was known for her no-nonsense attitude, and for graciously taking girls of the school and turning them into respectable women.

In the October 1923 edition of The Oregonian, Louise Shields wrote: “Miss Jessica S. Todd, dean of women and head of the dormitory, has been a potent factor in working the miracle in the young women who are to be teachers” and “leaders in communities throughout the state.”

She had a “my way or the highway” type of attitude, said Jerrie Lee Parpart, exhibits coordinator and archives assistant at Hamersly Library.

Although she had a stern attitude, even rumored to have closed the door to the dormitory on girls who arrived after curfew, Todd cared deeply for the students. They were of the upmost of importance to her. The girls of the dorms showed their equal respect and gratitude towards Todd by dedicating a tulip tree to her.

According to an April 2, 1929 article in the student newspaper, The Lamron, “The Senior Cottage girls pleasantly surprised Dean Todd by dedicating to her, her home state tree as a token of lasting appreciation and friendship.”

Todd was frugal. She worked hard to save the university money and eventually saved the institution enough to add an extension to Todd Hall, giving it a music room and west wing.

Part of Todd’s work in forming girls into women was organizing formal Sunday dinners and Wednesday dress dinners, where students were allowed to invite family members or boyfriends. The girls at the dinner would alternate being heads of the table, handling etiquette and table rules.

“Even such a matter as table manners leaves its mark upon a girl’s general self-control,” Shields said.

One of Jessica Todd’s additions to the dormitory was the “Painted Alley” which was designed after a Parisian Café. It has also been known to be the spot where girls would sneak boys into the dorm.

Todd later retired in 1931; her hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. As said in a tribute written to Todd in The Lamron, in 1931, “For nineteen years she has capably directed the dormitories, making them truly beautiful and inspiring places in which to live. She has worked patiently through stress and storm, guiding and helping.”

In October 1944, The OCE Lamron also wrote: “The dormitory was named for her in the recognition of her many years of service to the school,”

Todd died in 1944 in Pennsylvania, but it is rumored that her ghost or presence lingers around the university, continuing to watch over students and her former dormitories.

Love spreads throughout Western

PHOTO BY SHANNEN BROUNER | PHOTO EDITOR
PHOTO BY SHANNEN BROUNER | PHOTO EDITOR
By AMANDA CLARKE
 Staff Writer

Project LOVE, an event dedicated to loving yourself and created by Western student Karlie Holmgren and sponsored by Student Leadership and Activities, was in the Werner University Center Feb. 9 to Feb. 11. There was a booth in the WUC for the three days, manned by volunteers and Holmgren herself.

Project LOVE showed variety each day with a different event at the booth. On the first day, students were able to write sticky notes with words of encouragement for their homes. The following day, there was an opportunity to take photos in a photo booth. The final day, students could take slips to write compliments for their friends and loved ones.

“Each day we promoted simple ideas — whether it was writing positive notes about yourself around your house, taking a picture to capture your own beauty, or passing out compliments to family, friends or random people,” Holmgren said.

Holmgren said she hoped to reach out to different groups of people walking through the WUC. She said February had always been a time to celebrate love for another person.

The purpose of the event was to help remind people to love themselves. Because media typically defines beauty and love for people, it can sometimes be difficult for someone to see their own beauty and to love themselves.

“It is an empowering message,” said Janessa Rook, a junior public health major.

Jordyn Ducotey, a junior communication studies major also attended the event.

“When those impractical expectations are not met, many people fail to see their beauty,” Ducotey said. “This event reminded people that they are beautiful and that loving yourself is important.”

Holmgren also said that Project LOVE was working toward trying to show that beauty should be defined in your own terms.

“Your own individual beauty is why you should love yourself,” Holmgren said.

Holmgren said she hopes that Project LOVE “affected people on campus by simply reminding people they are worthy of their own love.”

“Sometimes, all we need is a reminder,” said Holmgren. “that’s what Project LOVE was there for.”

Faculty members discuss tenure

By CHELSEA HUNT
 Staff Writer

To Maria Dantas-Whitney, professor of bilingual education and ESOL, tenure means recognition and duty. For Thomas Rand, professor of English literature, having
tenure creates an association between him and the university that he is proud of.

Even though some students have heard the term tenure, not all fully understand what it means and how it works. Tenure, essentially, brings job security. Teachers who have tenure cannot get fired unless they display inappropriate behavior or
poor teaching.

This security allows teachers the ability to take risks. As a prime example of this freedom, Rand cited Grover Krantz, who was a professor at Washington
State University. Because Krantz had tenure, he had the freedom to pursue cryptozoology in his research of Bigfoot, which would otherwise have been too risky a pursuit for a professor.

Faculty who have tenure have the title of associate professors and professors. Those who are on the tenure-track are often assistant professors.

Both tenure-track and tenured faculty receive salary increases along a regular salary step system.

Those seeking tenure go through a series of reviews by different levels of the university, from the division chair and their peers, to the dean, and finally to
the provost.

Dantas-Whitney, as chair of the teacher education division, plays an active role in reviewing other faculty members. She calls this “a very rewarding experience.”

In order to receive tenure, and after receiving tenure, professors must display good teaching, scholarship, and service.

According to Sue Monahan, dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences, “faculty who earn tenure are expected to be strong teachers and to maintain a scholarly presence in their academic field.”

Faculty are also expected to be active members of professional and local communities.

For faculty hired on the non-tenure track, these responsibilities are still relevant, even though they are not working toward receiving tenure.

Non-tenure-track faculty can also provide high quality teaching to students and research to their scholarly communities.

Debbi Brannan, who is a non-tenure-track assistant professor of psychology, brings her own experience to her department.

“Having conducted cross-cultural research and my applied research experience has been a nice addition to an already strong and diverse department,” Brannan wrote in an email.

Non-tenure-track faculty, depending on their level of education and their role at the university, are designated as lecturers, instructors, or adjunct professors.

Some, like Brannan, are assistant professors.

These faculty do not receive the same salary step increases as tenured and tenure-track faculty do.

They do receive some increases on top of their base salary, which is based on the highest degree they have received.

Tenure status can have some impact on students. Monahan wrote in an email that one example of this is how tenured faculty play a strong role in creating curriculum
and assessing students’ success.

Judy Vanderburg, director of human resources, said that hav- ing tenured faculty provides ac- cess to their discipline, but that all the faculty of different tenure statuses “Contribute to all of our students’ education.”

Western welcomes new Campus Public Safety Director

REBECCA CHILES
REBECCA CHILES
By CONNER WILLIAMS
 Freelancer

After an eight-month vacancy, the position of Director of Campus Public Safety and
Risk Management has been filled. Rebecca Chiles will oversee risk management for the campus and insurance claims as well.

“It lets the office get back to normal. Allen Riesen, the interim director, had his hands filled with multiple responsibilities, so it is great to have this position filled by an experienced officer who can focus her time on the daily duties of operating the CPS office,” Officer Brian Binnell said.

Chiles previously served as director of police services at Louisiana State University Shreveport for eight years from 2006 to 2014, and she possesses 18 years of public safety experience.

She started out at the University of Arkansas as a patrol officer in 1996, and
then transferred to Southern Arkansas University, where she served from 2001 to 2006, and eventually moved up to the position of lieutenant.

The environment at SAU is similar to that of Western: it is a small college town
with about the same student population.

The public safety system is a bit different where she is from, however.

There is no designated campus police, but rather a police department devoted to a
college campus. The process of working with a separate police department is a relatively new one, but Chiles stated that it is all about communication.

From the coordination between Monmouth Police Department and the Western CPS to students being able to converse efficiently with both departments, communication
is the key component in the overall safety of the community.

“We hope that students can start to develop a rapport with their CPS officers because the main goal for everyone is safety,” Chiles said.

She advises that students should always take general safety and theft-prevention
precautions, such as using the paw print walkways at night, and always making
sure to lock up personal items or keep them on-hand.

Chiles plans to send out frequent general safety newsletters at least once or
twice per term, as a reminder for students to ensure they take general preventative measurements to deter and prevent crime.

She said she wants to create and monitor a CPS social media page in which students
can receive updates and general safety news.

“Let’s make sure we’ve got the safest possible campus we can have,” Chiles said.
“The main thing is that we are here for the overall safety of the WOU community.”

Out and Proud Week embraces individuality and sexuality

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE BLAIR | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE BLAIR | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
By CAITY ARIAS
 Freelancer

Open Mic Night encouraged Western’s community to embrace their individuality.

The event focused on sexuality to coincide with Out and Proud Week. Out and Proud Week brings awareness to the equality of all people regardless of their sexual preference.

Lacey Roop, spoken word poet, was a special guest. Other performers joined the stage to share their creations.

The first performer, Keenan Richmond, played the acoustic guitar and was encored to sing three songs. The songs were “Norwegian Wood,” “Things We Said Today” and “A Day in the Life” written by The Beatles.

All of the songs emulated love and life, indicating that neither of the concepts are perfectly defined.

Aliyah Nicholson walked to the stage next, drawing attention to her appearance, no makeup and comfortable. Nicholson recited a poem she had written over the summer. The poem described that words do hurt. A vicious cycle is implemented when
people use words to defy and destroy others. The cycle will consist of repeatedly hurting each other and diminishing each other’s self-esteem.

To avoid this cycle, Nicholson said, “self-image can be restored by the change of mind frame.” Roop, “high five and hug” connoisseur, introduced the power of poetry through laughter and seriousness, happiness and sadness.

In one of Roop’s poems, she pokes fun at the reactions she has received from other people in her life: “I walked into a bar and this guy asked me, ‘are you a dude or are you a dyke?’”

“Well, I don’t really know,” Roop replied, “I guess you can ask your girlfriend after she went down on me last night.”

Roop balanced prevailing stories about her life with her poetry to imply that her writing is based off of her memories. She illustrated the ignorant displays
of humanity that she’s had to face, but also voiced her love and acceptance for herself. Her easy laugh and humor guided the audience to relate with her.

The last performance by Sofia Yamez featured a poem about her struggles with her sexuality and the stereotypes that come with it.

She ends her poem by saying, “sexuality is predetermined by my own soul.”

After the show, Joseph Thorpe, a senior and interdisciplinary studies major commented, “I really enjoyed it. The poetry was inspiring and thought provoking.

I feel like I need to change what’s going on. There’s something more I should do to try to help people. It makes me want to change a lot of stuff about my life. I didn’t know poetry could make me do that.”

Henelle Crites, community health major, said the show was “really good and a lot of fun.”

Beer goggle obstacle courses demonstrate need to think before you drink

PHOTO BY ZACH GARDNER | PHOTO FREELANCER
PHOTO BY ZACH GARDNER | PHOTO FREELANCER
By EVELINA RAMIREZ
 Freelancer

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, in the Heritage Hall ballroom, members of SPEAK (Students
Promoting Equity Activism and Knowledge) and the Peer Mentors dedicated an hour
to share some useful tips on “thinking before drinking.”

SPEAK is a student club that branches out of Abby’s House, and their mission is to
foster equality, tolerance, and understanding by providing a safe environment where all people can express their ideas.

Yasmine Alvarez, psychology major and president of SPEAK, presented eight precautions to take while in a drinking situation including: eat first, be well hydrated, plan your transportation, carry condoms, choose your drinks wisely and alternate them with non-alcoholic drinks. She added not to allow strangers to pour your drinks, and coffee won’t sober you up.

“I work at Abby’s House to educate and promote activism in current and long standing issues,” Alvarez said.

Following the important tips, Kevin Gutierrez, Alheli Figueroa, and Alvarez presented a skit of a party scene gone wrong where the tips given previously were not being followed. They re-presented the skit with all the right decisions
to help the audience understand what they are supposed to do to be safe.

To demonstrate the need to be safe even further, there were beer goggles available to those who wanted to try them on and go through some obstacle courses. Some of the obstacles included catching and throwing hackey sacks, walking around tables, and hula hooping.

Another challenge had a person sit on a chair with wheels and roll in a straight
line, following a line of blue tape on the floor.

Carter Birch, a computer science major, said, “I was parallel with the line until the halfway point, then I crossed it and was parallel on the other side; it is impossible to complete the line.”

SPEAK and the Peer Mentors also organized a fun and non-alcoholic drinking station
where the attendees could try out mocktails. Ingredients like orange juice, Shasta
Twist Lemon Lime, and cranberry juice were available for students to try the non-alcoholic concoctions. Some of the drinks included hurricanes, frozen virgin margaritas, and the classic Shirley Temples.

For more information about Abby’s House and SPEAK check out wou.edu/abbyshouse
or email Speak@ wou.edu

Community donates to Red Cross blood drive

By KATRINA PENAFLOR
 Campus Life Editor

On Feb. 3 and Feb. 4, the American Red Cross set up shop in the Pacific Room of the Werner University Center for the annual blood drive, hosted by Western.

It gives students and faculty the opportunity to donate blood.

“It’s nice that it comes to campus,” commented Cat Bracken, a history and English major.

Twins Sharon Jones and Sherry Hinkle, both from the Willamette Chapter of the Red Cross, were two of the volunteers at the blood drive.

“We try to make it a good time for everyone,” Hinkle said.

According to www.redcrossblood.org, “More than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day,” an important reason for students to donate.

The average donation amount from one person is one pint. There is the exception of what Jones calls, “Twice as nice,” which are donors who have the ability to give two pints.

The donation process was fairly simple. Students, carrying with them a valid I.D., signed in at the front table and – while waiting to donate – were given a booklet that outlines an overview of the process.

Then they met with a nurse and answered an array of questions, which checked their health and well-being. This ensured whether or not the donor is eligible to give blood.

Following is the actual donation, which according to Hinkle, can take approximately 20 minutes. There was also juice and snacks provided for people to enjoy afterward.

For some students, hesitation shadows blood donation and the cause it seeks to fulfill.

Hinkle recommended eating a solid meal before donation and wants new donors to know that “We explain the process; it’s very simple. [The nurses] are very gentle.”

Hinkle also added that it is “very helpful if you can make an appointment ahead of time.” This will keep the waiting time down.

Jones said the turnout was excellent this year. She said at universities the volunteers generally find there to be an influx of people willing to donate.

There were plenty of students and faculty willing to volunteer this term.

While waiting to donate, Bracken said, “People should give it a try. There is always a need for it.”

Western Oregon University

Facebook   Instagram   X  YouTube

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY
345 Monmouth Ave. N.
Monmouth OR 97361

503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593

Tools

Campus Maps
Canvas
Find People
Portal
WOU Email
Technical Support

Resources

A-Z Index
Accessibility
Academic Calendar
Class Schedule
Jobs at WOU
News
Explore WOU
Partnerships
Student Services
Freedom of Expression

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

Accessibility    Public Records    Privacy    Student Consumer Information

WOU prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by WOU.